How much does an SA Lotto ticket cost?

A single board costs R5. With Lotto Plus 1 it's R10, and with Lotto Plus 2 it's R15 for all three draws.

What days does SA Lotto draw?

SA Lotto draws every Wednesday and Saturday at 21:00 SAST.

What are the odds of winning SA Lotto?

Division 1 odds are 1 in 20,358,520. Division 7 (match 3) has odds of 1 in 72 and pays a fixed R50.

How do I claim an SA Lotto prize?

Prizes up to R50,000 can be claimed at any licensed retailer. Prizes over R50,000 must be claimed at an Ithuba regional office.

Game Guides

How to Play SA Lotto: Complete Guide for Beginners

By LottoNow Editorial TeamUpdated 1 September 2026Fact-checked 1 September 20267 min read

SA Lotto is South Africa's flagship lottery game, run by Ithuba under the National Lottery brand. Draws happen every Wednesday and Saturday at 21:00 SAST, and tickets cost R5 per board (R10 with Lotto Plus 1, R15 with Lotto Plus 2).

How to pick your numbers

Choose 6 numbers from 1 to 52. You can pick your own numbers or ask for a Quick Pick (computer-generated random selection). Each board gives you one set of 6 numbers. You can play up to 10 boards per coupon.

The Bonus ball

After the 6 main numbers are drawn, a 7th Bonus ball is drawn from the remaining 46 numbers. The Bonus ball affects Division 2 and Division 6 prizes — matching 5 numbers plus the Bonus ball pays more than matching 5 numbers alone.

Draw days and times

SA Lotto draws at 21:00 SAST on Wednesday and Saturday. Results are published on LottoNow shortly after. The live draw is broadcast on SABC2.

Prize divisions and odds

Division 1: Match 6 — 1 in 20,358,520 (Jackpot)
Division 2: Match 5 + Bonus — 1 in 3,393,087
Division 3: Match 5 — 1 in 75,402
Division 4: Match 4 + Bonus — 1 in 30,161
Division 5: Match 4 — 1 in 1,371
Division 6: Match 3 + Bonus — 1 in 1,029
Division 7: Match 3 — 1 in 72 (fixed R50)
Division 8: Match 2 + Bonus — 1 in 96 (free ticket)

Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2

For an extra R5, Lotto Plus 1 enters the same numbers into a second draw with a guaranteed R1 million jackpot. For another R5, Lotto Plus 2 enters a third draw with a guaranteed R600,000 jackpot. Both use the same 6-from-52 format.

Tips for new players

Set a budget before you buy — decide how much you can afford to lose
Play regularly with a consistent stake rather than buying many tickets at once
Check results on LottoNow after every draw
Sign your ticket immediately after purchase
Never spend money you can't afford to lose